Tag Archives: Daniel Craig

Film reviews

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Leave a comment

Writer and director Rian Johnson is back with another Knives Out and this one may be the best of them all. The clues, the people, the egos, and the matters all make these mystery thrillers so fanciful and wonderful. Especially with Daniel Craig reprising his role as Benoit Blanc bringing out the laid-back detective mannerisms. At the same time, he also projects the personality focused on solving the case and putting the pieces together one-by-one. The whole film is an exciting ride of questions filled with humor and fun set in a church this time around. The wrongdoings have a lot to do with faith and fate—but also involvement of the community comes into the question as well. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery involves a pattern of realizations created to blindside audiences with clever writing. Johnson is a genius.

Benoit Blanc meets Rev. Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), a promising young priest. There is also Martha Dealcroix (Glenn Close), a lady employed by the church. The main head of the church is Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), who is at the top of the congregation. The film highlights a church family seen from various strange angles. Then a murder occurs and Blanc steps in. The others involved are Dr. Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner), Vera Draven (a lawyer played by Kerry Washington), Lee Ross (a book author played by Andrew Scott), as well as Simone Vivane (a disabled former client played by Cailee Spaeny). Jud is trying to keep the peace while getting the case solved but not point fingers. At the same time, his words of wisdom are at stake.

The curious moving parts explore faith and other theories in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The puzzling concept is that it all comes down to who has the most loyalty or jealousy. At the same time hierarchy plays a role and Jud wants to maintain his place in the hierarchy. Benoit must help him find the missing pieces to determine who, why, where, and what has caused a death involving the church. There are loads of curiosities and crazy dynamics. The puzzling factors in this popular franchise make audiences spin with joy while also being surprised by the many unexpected treasures in the stories. Johnson knows how to fill his mysteries with syrupy entertainment while also ensuring time passes quickly while audiences enjoy them. 

Since this film takes place in a religious setting, it opens many theories which have to do with commitment to a church. These theories give the roles of Brolin and Close purpose as they hold seniority in the church but also have fishy elements in their characterizations. Johnson keeps audiences wondering who is responsible for the harsh crime in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

The levels of ego exhibited by those characters who feel entitled grabbed my attention during this film. In addition to the pastor who is trying to remain truthful to his faith, there is the detective trying to solve the crime. It takes two to tango while dealing with the ugly elements of surprise in this story. This movie is amasterpiece in which the game keeps spinning as the characterskeep playing the blame game. Be prepared for heads to roll. Four out of four stars for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

Film reviews

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Review

1 Comment

Director Rian Johnson invites his audience along for a new adventure. After the extravagant fun of Knives Out (2019), his new film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery takes the adventure to a more enticing and dangerous level. The COVID-19 pandemic plays a small role in the entertainment and the setting of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. The cast line-up is spectacular. Daniel Craig is Benoit Blanc (the continuing detective), Edward Norton is Miles Bron (the host of the grand party), Kathryn Hahn is Claire Debella, Leslie Odom Jr. is Lionel Touissant, Jessica Henwick is Peg, Madelyn Cline is Whiskey, Kate Hudson is Birdie Jay, Dave Bautista is Duke Cody, and Janelle Monae is Andi Brand. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a detective story full of wild realizations and unforgettable twists.

The detective work in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is showcased in scenes focused on the personalities of the characters. With Craig playing the detective, his characterizations prove he can narrow down the personalities of those who are trustworthy and those who are shady. His personality adds layers to the twisted suspense as do the behaviors of all the characters involved. Everyone has a side that appears to be questionable, but who is most dangerous to everyone at the party?

In Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, the adventure takes place in Greece. That is where Blanc is invited to investigate a suspicious case. The problem, however, is that the location is filled with people on a weekend getaway, most of whom have had to pass through strange Customs due to the pandemic. Everyone involved is technically breaking the rules of lockdown. Bron is the host of all the guests at the party. They’re all wealthy to some degree due to success in business. The house owned by Bron is equipped with sensors and high-end artifacts. A variety of factors make the audience aware that Bron is a victim of crimes. The twist involves whether he really is.  A murder happens and heads start to role. This is when Blanc’s clever, opinionated tone kicks in and when Bron’s wealthy attitude mode also kicks in. When one person is killed, everyone loses their minds and pointing fingers as they wonder how much of the fancy home of Bron is truly safe. From that point on, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery only gets more fun, complex, and invigorating.

Craig’s performance as Blanc portrays a vibrant, intelligent man with attitude. He can put together pieces easily and read victims’ minds, while also being a self-absorbed man. Norton as Bron displays wealth as well as many suspicious personality traits. The characterizations and suspicions are calculated. The self-centered traits of the characters played by Craig and Norton are at the center of the film’s many questions which makes the film inevitably captivating. I found myself repeatedly asking who, why where, and how, and then having to re-think those questions during catastrophic, yet humorous, situations in the movie.

With random deaths and serious incidents happening, Blanc can put all the pieces of the puzzle together. His tactics are precise, but with many of the guests being considered high-profile, his calculations tend to have both accuracy and errors. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a joyful ride in a pandemic era. Many of the situations have answers that have shock value, but also many filled with witty joy.

Is Blanc a genius? Can Blanc solve the case? Is Bron more smart than Blanc thinks? What else is dangerous in Bron’s home? Do any of the other victims have issues to share? Join the mystery and put together the puzzle in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. The many technological advancements in the movie’s high-end mansion truly step up the game of cat and mouse, not just for Blanc’s investigation, but for everyone who involved. Four stars.